Class E-Blasts

Do come and be with fellow '65 Mount Holyoke classmates at the inauguration of President Sonya Stephens. The date: Saturday, September 29.

9 a.m.-3 p.m. A welcome tent will be available for all alumnae with information on the day's events and to provide a place to gather with classmates. Snacks and drinks will be provided. (Location TBD)

There will be a general email sent out soon from the Alumnae Association with more details, but in advance, SAVE THE DATE.

Caroline Sloat attended the last presidential inauguration. She gives a rave review and tells us that the College pulls out all the stops. Academic regalia at its finest. The mood will be festive and restorative. It will be an event to cherish.

Caroline Sloat, Kristin Stueber and Martha Bernstein have offered their homes for overnight accommodations if anyone might need to spend the night. Caroline can take two classmates and Kristin, three. Kristin notes that she would encourage classmates who might stay the night to consider contributing to a scholarship fund she began many years ago. The seed money was an insurance policy she no longer needed and over the years she has added to it. It is for international students. Most have been from Nepal, but at least one has come from Vietnam and another from Africa. At this time the scholarship covers about 20 percent of costs.

It seems hard to believe yet another year has sped by, but rest assured that your class officers have been busy planning for future gatherings: In a few months an April mini-reunion on campus, then our 55th reunion in May 2020.

Before I tell you about all these plans, I do want to let everyone know that in December we lost our dear class vice-president, Sally Capps Tubbesing, after a courageous battle with a rare form of cancer. Susie Betzer, her college roommate and lifelong friend, has sent a wonderful tribute with photos to our class website. [READ MORE]

In a few short months, April 17-19, 2018, we will have a '65 mini-reunion on campus. Martha Bernstein has been orchestrating that event. Thank you, Martha! There are one or two finishing touches that need to be made; however, there will be lots of activities to choose from as well as free time to chat/walk/sit and catch-up with classmates. While the campus will not quite be in "spring form" by mid-April, our lively presence will surely brighten up the campus. Super Blanch (Blanchard) is open for business and we can all try the new Mount Holyoke ice cream flavor. Join the fun of connecting with friends and classmates. Here is the preliminary plan from Martha:

2018 Mini-Reunion

We are putting the final touches on the schedule for our April 17-19 mini-reunion on campus. We will begin after lunch on Tuesday, 4/17 and end after lunch on Thursday, 4/19. Rooms have been reserved at Willits-Hallowell, with the option of extending your stay before or after if that is better for your schedule.

The details are almost final and we are happy to report several highlights:

Dinner with Mount Holyoke Acting President Sonya Stephens on 4/17

Tour of the Dickinson Homestead in Amherst on 4/18

Tour and conversation with Director Tricia Paik of the Mount Holyoke College Art Museum

If you have any questions please contact Martha Bernstein at 860-567-5067 or martha12@optonline.net. If you would like to come but need financial support contact Judith Gossart-Burger 207-288-4641 or sprucewind.gossart@gmail.com or Bev Harrison at 408-355-4132 or bbhmobile@aol.com. If you do not have access to a computer or our website, please contact Martha, Bev, or myself.

55th reunion

Roberta Aber and Dianne Lee, cochairs for our 55th reunion, have been gathering volunteers and have begun planning for May 2020. We have scheduled a special time at the mini, over pre-dinner drinks, to discuss our 55th. Roberta and Dianne eagerly look forward to hearing your thoughts and ideas. Already planning has begun for a 55th reunion book, and they are gathering ideas for a class read.

Roberta and Dianne will have a spring conference call for those classmates who have volunteered to be part of the planning for the 55th. If you are interested or have ideas and cannot be at the April mini, send them an email:

Our class is a picture of pride with our fundraising efforts so far this year. Since our cash received and pledge balances total $182,128 we are well on our way to reaching our goal of $230,000. Our class participation currently stands at 39 percent. Our goal is 74 percent. If you have not yet given, please do so soon. Whatever the amount, we want YOU on our team of classmate contributors!

Cheers and love from Salsbury Cove,
Judy

Sent: Feb 6, 2018

Friday, November 18, 2016 at 10:25 AM

Dear Classmates,

As you can see from the photo above, ten of us gathered on campus on Sept. 17 and 18 to attend the Alumnae Association-Advancement Office Volunteer Conference. We had a splendid time, the campus was stunning, the meetings inspiring and informative.

55th Reunion, 2020

Planning has begun. Roberta Aber, reunion cochair, would like your ideas for the fifty-fifth. We want this to be a reunion you want to attend. It is not too early to begin this conversation. Coming soon to the class website (see below) will be a "Suggestion Box" for your ideas about what to do (or not do) at Reunion 2020. Volunteer job descriptions will also be on the website. If you wish to volunteer let Roberta know, Roberta.aber@gmail.com.

Class News

1965 continues to amaze and support Mount Holyoke in so many significant ways. This past fiscal year we exceeded our dollar-amount and participation-percentage goals raising $221,375 from 72 percent of our class. In comparison with all other classes, we had the highest number of renewed donors, with more than 80 members of our class making a gift during the month of June. As a result, we won an additional $5,000 toward our class fundraising total.

At our fiftieth reunion, so many of us made new connections and reaffirmed old ones. To encourage those connections, a number of us are working on reformatting our website. Visit the site to see what's new.

We also have a new communication coordinator for the website, Dianne Lee. She will be updating the site regularly. Note the sections on the left, some new. Just click on a section to learn more and see newly added information. Send your thoughts and questions to Dianne: leeroseen@gmail.com. We welcome new information about gatherings and mini's in your area and hope you will share information about your activities and interests. Photos are great. Dianne and our scribes will work together to share your news with others. Dianne will encourage classmates who use our class Facebook site to regularly check the class website.

Class dues are $25 for the five-year period 2015-2020. Check the dues link on the website if you don't remember paying. Use the PayPal link or send a check to Bev Harrison, Treasurer, 264 Radford Dr., Campbell, CA 95008. Make checks payable to MHC Class of 1965.

And last but not least, you will be "Elfed" this year by Judy Partlow. No telling when your elfing will occur, but be on the look out!

Connection Class 2015

Those of us who attend the September Volunteer Conference were thrilled to reconnect with the teams from the class of 2015. The officers are also planning events for their second reunion and we are planning an informal gathering on campus in mid-May to be present for the Alumnae Parade to cheer them as they pass. The Alumnae Association supports our enthusiasm, but regrets that there is no space for us in the dorms. Kristin Stueber and possibly others in the area can offer a bed if you would like to participate and need a place to stay. If you are interested, please contact Caroline Sloat: cfsloat@charter.net. More details to follow.

Campus News

Change is good and the College is changing to remain relevant. There are now many inter-departmental majors, there was only one in 1965. Computer science is a massive growth area, with sixty students, no surprise. Teaching techniques continue to evolve with emphasis on creativity and hands on learning. The Lynk Program is witness to that. The Career Development Center engaged 1762 students last year.

This year's freshmen class numbers: 571 students, from 36 states and 26 countries. The target had been 525. This jump occurred without sacrificing excellence as more students than expected chose Mount Holyoke.

Ground has been broken for the new Campus Community Center, adding more community space, more dining options, and innovative ways for students to connect with one another and with faculty. There is a web cam of the new commons, check in to see the progress: mtholyoke.edu/communitycenter/live-webcam.